Washington: Norma's (Olympia)

Sir Thomas Burger:

Sometimes simply seeing where the road leads you offers more rewards than the intended destination, and Norma's Burger is one of those treasures. I ran across this gem heading north just looking for a place to eat that wasn't fast food (not an easy thing to find on I-5 between Portland and Seattle).

This is a classic American burger hop with the decor of a suburban family room complete with oak furnishings, pastel colors, floral prints and a smell of potpourri. None of this is particularly interesting on its own, but this family has a proud Veteran in it and there's tons of patriotism to be found in every direction. The art was truly amazing – more Bald Eagles and U.S. flags than most federal buildings. Beyond a mere shrine in support of the troops, this place acts more like a spastic Labrador pup all slobbering excited ready to hump the leg of the troops.

To top it all off, the burger menu offers specialties such as "The Duke" and "The W" burgers. And I'm not making it up when I say Survivor "Eye of the Tiger" was playing on the radio as I deliberated on which one to have.

I have friends who are bound by restaurant code to order whatever the most ridiculous "specialty" item on any menu is regardless of how disgusting or what they may actually want to eat (including homemade Tombstone/Hormel "chili pizza"). So borrowing their instincts, I had to go with the choice offering jalapenos, pineapple, and mustard…I ate The W.

Overall it's not such a bad home-style burger and the pineapple/mustard combo is tamed by the overpowering Kraft American cheese. Norma's is well worth a stop on a the dull Seattle drive and I'd suggest getting there soon to try The W. It won't be long before Norma's faced with changing this up to be a "Hillary Deluxe" or an "Obama with Cheese."

Norma's Burger @ I-5
Interstate 5, Exit 114
10322 Martin Way E.
Olympia, WA 98516

Read more...

Utah: Squatters / Acme

LambBurger and SirThomasBurger are apparently in a part of the country where naming something "Squatters" seems logical:

Greetings from The Great Salt Lake!
Lamburger & Sir Thomas on assignment...

Burgers from out of town can be a dicey proposition, especially when it's burning cold outside in the land of Mormon. But here are couple additions worthy of a chorus from the Tabernacle (or at least a round of expense account cold ones).

First I (Sir Thomas) braved Squatters Brew Pub packed elbow to elbow on a Tuesday night. Bar seating was the best bet and the servers were great at paying a lot of attention. I went for the BBQ burger with caramelized bourbon (bourbonized?) onions and it was fantastic. Thick burger, thick cheddar, thick bacon, bourbon onions and BBQ sauce. Add sweet potato fries and I'd call this the best burger in SLC and as good as many I've had in PDX. The beers weren't half bad either although their claim to fame was the Polygamy Porter - and here I though Oregon's Rogue Brewing had the novelty/joke beer category all locked up...

Next we both tried the Acme Burger Company. Aside from boasting "a unique dinning experience" on its signage and the server's insistence that we appreciate the importance of how the chef was snagged away from Park City, these were pretty solid burgers. Thick patties on quality roles with all the expected fixin's, but nothing very distinctive. The dining experience was far more upscale than expected based on the name and street presence (think Barley Mill on the outside and Castagna Cafe on the inside), but then the chef did come all the way from Park City...

In short Salt Lake City burgers were good, Salt Lake City burgers with bacon and ingredients made with bourbon were better, but there's no place like home.

Wish you were here!

Squatter's Pub Brewery
147 W. 300 S
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801)363-2739

Acme Burger Co.
275 S. 200 W
Salt Lake City, UT 84101
(801)257-5700

Read more...

Burger Skills: Burgertime

Sir Thomas Burger clues us in to the fact that we can play the classic arcade game Burger Time now all the time.

Read more...

Ringside

Sir Thomas Burger is blowing are minds and leaving us more breathless then a 1/2 pounder:

Featuring the $2.25 happy hour gorgonzola cheeseburger from The RingSide on Northwest Burnside, served by our favorite bartender Jim.

At a place known for steaks, the RingSide's late night bar menu surprisingly includes many great options such as a Cesar salad with real anchovies, oyster shooters, the ever popular steak bites, and one fantastic burger.

Cheeseburger options include cheddar, swiss, or a saucy gorgonzola. It about 3/4 size of a typical premium burger and comes served with a pickle and the ketchup comes in its own mini gravy boat. Sit at the left side of the bar and you'll notice blueprints for building a burger hanging on the wall. Happy hour deals start at 9:45, but get there early because it fills up fast - weeknights are the best bet.

Bonus Pickle!

Ringside
2165 W Burnside St
Portland, OR
(503) 223-1513

Read more...